News

06 Feb 2008

Eight environmental NGOs condemn Dwejra Vandalism

Eight environmental NGOs Condemn Dwejra vandalism – 6th February 2008 The environmental NGOs Birdlife Malta, Din l-Art Helwa, Flimkien Ghal Ambjent Ahjar, Friends of the Earth Malta, Gaia Foundation, Light Pollution Awareness Group, Nature Trust (Malta) and Ramblers Association strongly condemn the vandal attacks recently held at Dwejra Heritage Park in Gozo where graffiti was sprayed on information boards and on...

31 Jan 2008

DPA Amendments welcomed by civil society

31 January 2008 DPA Amendments Welcomed by Civil Society The environment NGOs Din l-Art Helwa, Flimkien għal-Ambjent Aħjar, Friends of the Earth (Malta), Gaia, Light Pollution Awareness Group, Nature Trust Malta and Ramblers Association of Malta welcome the decision taken by government to amend the Development Planning Act regulations and give a stronger voice to...

01 Nov 2007

DLH & Gaia welcome Mepa decision to revoke Ulysses Lodge permits

November 2007  The two environmental NGOs that had submitted an appeal against the Mepa board’s decision to grant a full development permit at the Ulysses Lodge site on the outskirts of Ramla Bay, Gozo, have welcomed the board’s decision to apply Article 39A of the Development Planning Act and revoke both that decision as well as the outline development permit issued...

18 Oct 2007

Appeal against permit for large petrol station at Buqana l/o Rabat

Din l-Art Helwa and the Gaia Foundation submit appeal against permit granted for large petrol station at Buqana, l/o Rabat 18th October 2007 – The NGOs Din l-Art Helwa and the Gaia Foundation have submitted an appeal against the permit recently granted to build a petrol station at Buqana, l/o Rabat...

14 Sep 2007

‘Planningspeak’ by Rudolf Ragonesi

14th September 2007 Newspeak was coined by George Orwell in his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four to refer to the redefinition of words that would help the regime suppress opposition and freedom of speech. Orwell understood that the manipulation of language can be a key to control. Some developers today have become a very powerful force to reckon with, and some are quick...

30 Aug 2007

‘Development at Ta’ Cenc’ by Martin Galea

There are 15 persons who are appointed to sit on the board of the Malta Environment and Planning Authority. They are chosen for their skill, outlook intelligence and integrity to look after the most controversial subject in this country – planning and environment. Mepas mission statement places looking after our natural and historical heritage at the...

25 Aug 2007

Development Pressures within Protected Archaeological Buffer Zones

Din l-Art Helwa calls on the Malta Environment and Planning Authority to exercise the highest level of prudence when considering planning applications within the designated buffer zones of archaeological sites of international importance in Malta and Gozo. Din l-Art Helwa is concerned about 2 applications for new development presently under consideration by Mepa, that fall within scheduled archaeological areas. Application PA 7946/05...

28 Jun 2007

Letter to the Times from DLH & Gaia on Ramla l-Hamra

28 June 2007 We refer to Sylvana Debono’s letter of 27th June on behalf of Mepa, in reply to our previous statement that almost one third of the area approved for redevelopment at Ramla Bay consists of structures built without a permit, and that these cannot qualify for redevelopment. These structures consist of storage rooms, large elevated terraces used as car parks,...

19 Jun 2007

Ramla Bay permit – Din l-Art Helwa & the Gaia Foundation

Press Release 19 June 2007 The NGOs Din l-Art Helwa and the Gaia Foundation today again questioned MEPA’s decision to issue a permit to redevelop ‘Ulysses Lodge’ in Ramla Bay, Gozo on the requested footprint. On 6th May the MEPA Board granted a permit...